Bottle-capping machine.



' no. MILLER. BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2'7. 1910. i 982,521. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

bur/11110721111 W W m M w g E125:wlmm mm w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESECK C. MILLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR T0 IMPERIAL STOPPEH. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

Application filed May 27, 1910. Serial No. 563,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Esnon C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates especially to mechanism employed for applying metal caps to bottles, and has for its object the provision of a machine for this purpose which will automatically adjust itself to variations in the height of bottles being capped.

To attain the desired end, my invention consists in certain novel and useful combinations or arrangements of parts, and peculiarities of construction and operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of a bottle capping machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the bottom portion of the machine being shown in vertical section at a right angle to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the lower or cam shaped portion of the reciprocable rod, showing also a fragment of the cone-operating bell-crank which co-acts therewith.

Similar numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

1 is a hollow standard through which passes a shaft 2 the lower end thereof being connected to a crank which may be actuated in any suitable manner. The shaft 2 is provided with a capping structure or head 3, carrying a. chuck 4 adapted to receive and apply caps, such as 5. Carried by a projection 6 from the head 3 is a reciprocable rod 7 cut away at 8 and having a beveled por-.

tion 9, which portion, in effect, constitutes a cam.

lO-is a hollow bed supported by the standard 1, and having at its upper side a hollow, annular projection 11 provided with upwardly projecting fingers or keys 12 arranged to take in Ways 13 of a hollow nut or thimble 14, screwthreaded at 15 upon its exterior, and having-a central, screwthreaded sleeve 16.

17 is a spiral spring located between the surface forming a bed or table for the bottle 1 19 to be capped; the cooperating parts 14 and 18, together, constituting an adjustable bottle support.

20 is a screw of large pitch which engages the thread in the sleeve 16, the stem 21 of said screw being journaled in a thrust hearing 22 and bearing a hollow cone 23.

24 is a cone which enters the hollow cone 23, and while being held against rotation by a pin 25, has a slight vertical movement; the cones 23 and 24 forming a friction grip or lock.

26 is a bell crank one arm of which extends beneath the cone, the other arm entering the slot 8 in the rod 7.

When constructed and arranged in accordance with the foregoing description, the operation of my bottle capping machine is as follows: The top piece 18 is adjusted with respect to the thimble 14 so as to adapt the machine to the average height of the bottles to be capped, and a bottle 19 placed in position thereon, as the shaft 2 descends, it first brings the cap 5 down upon the top of the bottle neck, and then its continued descent presses upon the bottle support, causing the thimble 14 to impart a rotary motion to the screw 20 and its stem 21; such downward movement of the parts continues until the rod 7 acts upon the bell crank 26, causing friction between the cones 23 and 24, stopping rotation of the screw 20, bringing the bottle support to a standstill. This takes place just before the shaft 2 has completed its downward stroke, its remaining movement serving to crimp the cap 5 upon the bottle. As the shaft 2 returns to its initial position, the spring 17 causes the release of the grip mechanism 23 and 24, permitting the screw 20 to revolve, and the bottle support to move upward ready for capping another bottle.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bottle capping device, the combination of a bottle support with a revoluble member engaging said support, a friction lock adapted to limit the rotation of said member, and automatic mechanism for applying said friction lock.

2. In a device of the character herein specified, the combination with the screwthreaded bottle support of a rotatable screw engagingsaid support, and a friction lock adapted to limit the rotation of the screw. 3. A bottle capping device in which is comprised a vertically movable capping head, a bottle support, means for regulating the height of said support, a rotatable screw wherewith' said support engages, a friction grip forlimiting the rotation of said screw,

and operating mechanism for said grip.

4:. In a bottle capping device, the combination of a capping structure, and a bottle supporting structure with a revoluble member engaging one of said structures and an automatic friction locking device adaptedjto l limit the rotation of said member.

5. In a bottle capping device, the combination of a capping head structure and a bottle supporting structure with a member movably engaging one of said structures,

ESEOK C. MILLER.

Witnesses:

A. M. PIERCE, E. V. Honon. 

